Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-04


now and did not care what happened. He
asked me if had the pistol be gave me
yet. Il was III the pantry and l told him
so. | went and got it and showed it
to him. He saw it was not
loaded 10 all the barrels (mesning cylin-
dersG and he pa. in some more cartridges
and gave 1t 0sCk 10 NE. He wanted to
know if l could fire it and went to the
door snd snapped it,. 1t did not go of for
the cartridge was not good. put in an
other and he said: We'll, you know how
To do It and that is enough He then
said: NOW, ii anything happens you can
depend on NE: I'll help YOU With thai
he went away. He came sgain on De-
| cember l., the night before the
murder, and told NE TO hurry up,
to take the first chance l got.
He said should not burn
the head because i would leave traces,
he would take care of that. He said he
would get buckwheat at the same time
and save any cause OF suspicion. The
next morning saw him coming up the
road just as DruSe sat down to breakfast.
This was Just after he raised the ak to
strike me, and ran into the pantry.
got the pistol and came out. He was sit
ting down at the table. He swore awful
about the tea and sugar and
RAISED THE PISTOL AND SHOT.
shot him in the neck ana only stunned
him. Gates then shot again. l only shot
once. Gates shot three or four times. l
took the ak, cut his head off and chopped
! him up. The head was wrapped in q pa
per and carried out to the woodshed. It
was put in & lot of buckHheat. The body
W q II III, nd CTiu tn
the pigs. That is not true about feeding it
to the hogs. Ii was boiled and then burned.
estes came that night and I told him
what had happened. He grasped
my hand and said 1 had done
n0bly. He said he would
come for the buCkwheat 10 morrow
morning which he did. He took Druse's
head with him. II was buried one mile
from Richteld Springs. where l could
find it If | chose. II could never be
found, for the secret lies with Gates and
alone. Charles PETIT overheard us talk
ing about II once, but he is dead now and
Csn't talk. Gates is the only one VINO
knows anything abou, it. There was ar
other man with Gates when he GOT the
buckwheat, AND it was Elwood. His
name WAS Bill. 1t took eight hours
TO BURN THE BODY;
it made an awful smell. ! nearly tainted
seyer-l times. George and Frank Gates
were there some of the time. They did
not see much. though. I sent them down
to the wood lot and had them carry
shingles. l killed Druse because I could
not stand it any longer. He was
a brute, end I had not slept
with him in twelve wears That is
all | can tell. Gates put up Frank
to tell what he did tell to shove it all on
to me, but he will get his reward some
time. NOW you must not tell anyone this
until l am gone, and not let it get in any
paper till after - O'Clock tomorrow. l
don't care how many know it then. l
trust to you to see that it is all right.
You can say, too, that on my dying day l
am more innocent of the crime than those
who put me up to it. freely forgive them
all, all who so cruelty deserted me.
There are some names on that petition
sent from Warren which | could cover
With shame, but die in peace with every
one"
After she had finished Dr.. Powell, out
of the observance Of the holy, offered
short prayer, and then took his leive.
She desired the above published as soon
after the hanging as possible but Lot be-
fore.
TIE EXECUTION.
HERKIMER, n. Y, Feb. 28.-At 1880
the sheTif's Jury was ordered into the
jail yard, while Sheriff Cook, UrGer
Sheriff Rice and deputies and physicians
proceeded to Mrs. Druse's cell. When
they reached there Mrs. Druse sat weep
ing, holding M2Ty's bouquet in Fer hands,
and wearing some of the flowers about
her breast. Sheriff Cook began reading
the death warrant and the respite Of Gov
ernor Hill. To those who offered to as
sist Mrs. Druse in rising DR.. Powell
said: "She Will bear herself well and
does not need any assistance"
Sheriff Cook ard Under Sheriff
Rice led the procession, followed by
R-y. DR.. Powell sud Mrs, pIuse and
the physicians and deputies. Mrs. Druse
was dressed in black cashmere, With q
lace eGgiug on the neck and sleeves9 she
wore small shawl over her shpmliersl
inst was loaned 20 her by Mrs.HCdoka q
The day was bright, put q high1
sharp vino prevailed that caused
the deputies and other witnesses to suder
severely in the zero temperature. 3he
crowd about the courthouse and jail was
very quiet and orderly. At Hap Mrs.
DrUse and DR.. Powell knelt on the floor
of the scafold under the rope. Mrs.
DTusG held her daughters bouquet in her
hand and closed her eyes while Mr. Pow
ell offered prayer. She was then asked if
she mad anything to say, when she
referred TO DR.. Powell, who thanked al
those who had been kind to her, and i'm
plored ell he; enemies to forgive her as
she forgive all. DR.. Powell then pressed
Mrs. Drusa's hand and left the Jail yard,
carrying Mary's bouquet with him. Deputy
William Mckinney pinioned Mrs. Druse's
arms, knees and feet. She maintained
her composure, and was firm until Depu-
ty Ballou put the black cap on her head
and adjusted the rope. Deputy Marion,
who stood On her right, then babe her
goodbye. As she turned and looked into
mis- eyes she smiled and pressed his
hand. Deputy Baliou adjusted the moose
under and back of Mrs. DrUse's left ear
and pulled the cap over her face. Mrs.
Druse mOaned, cried and finally shrieked
so loud that her voice was heard in the
Jail and street adjoining. Sheriff Cook
dropped his hGnd over his breast and
Deputy BallOu sprung the trap. The 2l3
pound weight dropped st II: AS and the
womsE's body hung about three feet
above the floor of the gsllows. There
was but one conyulsion, a muscular con-
traction, ana the body then hung quiet.
The wind was bowling f5Tcely at this
moment with 3 bright sky.
Mrs. Druse's death under Judgment Of
the law was far more easy
and merciful than WAS thar
OF her victim, her husband,
in December Of 1854. Doctors Kay and
Sultor took observations of the woman's